Light of Epertase 01: Legends Reborn Page 4

He smiled at her like a politician.

  “But you and your friend can leave just the same.”

  “Just serve me something strong,” Elijah said, already bored.

  Tevin nodded that he’d have the same.

  “Hey, Frank,” she shouted. “Two zaps over here.”

  “Alright, Marge,” the bald head hollered back.

  After a moment, she returned with two dirty mugs full of piss-colored liquid and splashed them onto the unbalanced table. A tiny, dead bug floated, trapped in the bubbles of Tevin’s drink.

  “Excuse me?” he said, pointing to the bug.

  “Oh, sorry ’bout dat,” she replied. She fished her dirty-nailed finger into his drink, removing the insect before strutting to the bar again.

  The night dragged on as Elijah imbibed zap after zap, more fitting the town drunk than a future ruler. The volume of his voice increased when he shouted, “What stinks in here?” loud enough for all to hear, though no one replied.

  Marge walked past Elijah’s table, announcing last call. He waited until she passed to smack her rear. She swatted his hand away with a holler. “Your highness, that is not appropriate behavior for our future king.”

  “Shhh,” he whispered. “Are you trying to embarrass me in front of my sheep?”

  He grabbed her wrist; she yanked it free. She lowered her voice but kept her intensity. “With all due respect, sir, I’m not interested.” He snatched her hand again and again she yanked it free.

  Tevin tugged on Elijah’s shoulder. “You’ve had enough,” he said with a chuckle. “Leave her be or we won’t have anyone to bring us our alcohol. And I do need more alcohol.”

  She cocked her head to the side and said, “Maybe you didn’t hear me, Te-vin. Last call.”

  A scrawny, toothless patron in need of a scrub-down and clean clothes staggered past and made his way to the corner of the pub, his stench lingering behind. He stumbled over a knee-high can, spilling its contents onto himself and the warped wooden floor.

  “Marge,” the tender yelled. “Someone knocked over the shitter again.”

  “I saw him,” she yelled back, glared at Elijah, and then headed to the mess.

  Elijah leaned into Tevin’s ear. “That explains the smell. Here I thought we got rid of all the heathens.”

  Tevin recommended the two head home and placed his hand on the back of Elijah’s neck. “It is getting late,” he said, escorting him toward the door.

  Elijah pulled away from Tevin’s grasp like he had forgotten something of vital importance. “I will not be sad if this place burns to the ground,” he yelled across the room.

  He staggered and slammed into the back of the humongous, slouching patron sitting at the bar. The hulk straightened his back, revealing his full size. He wrenched his head to the side, releasing a symphony of agitated cracks.

  Elijah took a drunken step backward, almost tripping over his own feet. “Turn around, big man. If you are going to clench your fists, then turn around.”

  Tevin stepped between the man’s back and his prince. The big man took a deep, calming breath but didn’t turn. Tevin pushed Elijah through the doorway and into the street.

  Elijah’s stomach twisted and rumbled. Putting distance between him and the stench of the bar helped his nausea, though not much. If he could stop the town from spinning he would be delighted. Finally, the nastiness came. He tried to choke the vomit back but failed, dropped to his knees, and spewed warm zap onto the dirt road.

  Tevin rushed out of the tavern, laughing and patting Elijah’s back. “Do you know who you bumped into back there?”

  Elijah rolled to his rear-end and wiped the crud from his mouth with his sleeve. He shook his head that he didn’t.

  “Does the mercenary Simcane ring any bells?”

  “Yeah, I know Simcane.” He raised his voice, “Bring him out here. I fear no man.”

  Tevin laughed again as he helped Elijah to his feet. “Let’s go, tough guy. No fighting legends tonight.”

  “He is not a legend, he’s a coward.” Elijah put both of his hands on Tevin’s shoulders, leaned his face closer and whispered,

  “Tevin, old friend, you needn’t walk me home like one of your floozies.”

  “Your breath, Prince.” Tevin pushed him away. “You’re sure?”

  “Of course, I’m sure. I am the prince. I am untouchable.”

  “So you say. Very well. I will see you soon.”

  Elijah looked for the castle’s peak and a direction home. Though the trip took three times as long as it should, he reached the castle’s perimeter before morning. The moon was hidden by clouds and the shadows were as black as the deepest pit.

  A stranger startled him from within the shadows. “Rough night, P-p-prince?”

  Elijah spun with his hand on the hilt of his sword. He saw no one so he ordered, “Show yourself, stranger.”

  A more-dead-than-alive-looking man stepped into the poor street-torch lighting. His thin, gray hair hid part of his gaunt face. He wore no shirt and his skin was covered with festering, seeping scabs. Some of the scabs appeared to crawl over his skin but Elijah convinced himself the alcohol and darkness were playing tricks with his mind.

  “What do you want from me, leper?”

  “I only request a moment to s-s-s-speak.”

  “Make it quick.” Elijah slid part of his sword out of his sheath to show his seriousness.

  “I can help you,” the stranger said.

  “You?” Elijah chuckled. “Help a prince? How would that be?”

  “I’ve heard whispers throughout Thasula of your d-d-d-displeasure over your military obligations. I understand why you’d be angry; you’re b-b-better than those soldiers. You shouldn’t have to b-b-be at their l-l-l-level.”

  “And?”

  “I have a talent – one that can help you end your pathetic military servitude.”

  “You don’t say?” Elijah asked. “And how would you rid me of my burden?”

  The stranger’s grin cracked his raw cheek and pus trickled down the side of his face. “Leave that to m-m-me.”

  “What do you ask in return, creature?”

  “Just some f-f-f-f-f-freedom to explore certain, how should I say, activities in your kingdom?”

  “What kind of activities?” Even as he asked, he had a sick feeling of the stranger’s murderous intentions.

  “Just some occasional fun within the kingdom for me and my friends without your soldiers’ prying eyes.” He didn’t wait for an answer before backing into the shadows. Elijah had a sinking feeling that he had made a deal with evil.

  CHAPTER 8

  BRIEF TASTES OF VENGEANCE

  Rasi’s heart beat like a hummingbird’s as he stood in the dark bedroom. The wait had been long and the night longer. Daybreak drew near. He wondered why his prey hadn’t yet returned and worried that his surprise would be spoiled. He meditated to calm his breathing but found it difficult as he envisioned the murderer’s throat between his fingers. He will feel what she felt, he thought as he made a fist.

  He was giddy with the anticipation of almost a year’s worth of planning coming to fruition. He clenched his jaw to fight back his smile. He had never enjoyed killing, even at war, but this night he would savor it. He could afford no pity, knowing that what lie ahead would be hard and messy and satisfying.

  There would be no escape for him this night but he did not care.

  His revenge was near and, for the first time in his memory, his stomach didn’t twist and tear at his intestines. He wondered if his solitude had made killing easy and hoped that it hadn’t.

  Footsteps from the hall made his heart skip. By the time the door rustled, his hands were shaking like in a seizure. Steady, he told himself. Before the door opened, he pictured the girl’s dead eyes one last time and her last breath. He filled his lungs, then pursed his lips together and slowly blew out his breath with a sigh. Now, he was ready.

  The light from the hall poked through as the door creaked ope
n. Rasi waited behind it, silent. Excited. A thin piece of wood separated him from his sweet vengeance and he almost blew it with a quivering breath.

  Elijah told a guard goodnight from behind the door, sending shivers up Rasi’s spine. That voice and the anger it garnered had kept him warm many nights. His revenge was within reach.

  Elijah’s foot appeared in the doorway. Rasi clenched his fists. Elijah’s foot froze before taking his final, fatal step.

  What is he waiting for? He couldn’t have heard me.

  Elijah yelled, “Caimen, get help,” and pulled his foot away.

  Rasi ripped the door open. Elijah tried to run but Rasi’s straps enveloped him and yanked him into the room. Rasi kicked the door shut. The straps pinned Elijah’s arms to his side. His eyes bulged with beautiful terror as he was pulled face-to-face with his death-dealer.

  This is what I’ve been waiting for, Rasi thought. It was as perfect as he had dreamed. A growl left from deep in his gut. Each of his breaths sprayed spittle through his clenched teeth and onto Elijah’s stunned face.

  Elijah begged for mercy until his windpipe squeezed shut beneath a strap.

  Snap his neck! Do it now!

  Elijah gasped and clawed at the straps in magnificent impotence. Rasi clenched his jaw until he feared his teeth would break.

  But then, just as vengeance was so near, the straps released their prey. No! What are you doing?

  Elijah coughed and scurried across the room.

  A quivering voice from behind broke Rasi’s trance. “Who is there?” the voice shouted.

  Rasi ignored him. His straps recoiled for their next fight. No, no, kill him first! You’re blowing it. Let me die. Just kill him. But it was no use. His straps lashed out at the attacking swordsmen.

  Elijah’s still-breathing body infuriated him. Nothing else mattered, not his life, not the guards, nothing but sweet revenge.

  More and more guards spilled into the room, backing Rasi against the wall. “Get behind us, sir,” one of them ordered.

  Rasi scanned the dark room for escape. The guards closed in but they were hesitant. Rasi’s straps lunged at the closest of them. A ray of dim sunlight shimmered from an open window to Rasi’s back.

  “Kill him,” Elijah screamed, his voice scratchy and damaged.

  One of the guards attacked. A strap flung him to the side like he was weightless. The hallway announced reinforcements with pounding feet.

  Next time, Elijah.

  Rasi ran toward the open window. A guard cut him off. Rasi tackled him through the window and toward certain death. One of his straps grasped the sill, jolting him to a stop. The guard screamed the three stories to his bone-cracking end.

  Rasi looked up at the sill in time to see blood spray from the end of his strap. It let loose. He crashed to the ground next to the quivering guard, his straps helping to break his fall. He scrambled to his feet. His lower back tightened and he groaned as he hobbled through the Royal Gardens.

  “There he is,” someone shouted from the window. “Fire!”

  An arrow plowed into the dirt beside him. Another one whizzed past his head, close enough that he felt its wind. He saw the wall and his escape ahead.

  He glanced over his shoulder as the soldiers poured from the castle. With the wall and freedom within reach, he leaped against it. His straps stretched for the top.

  An arrow shattered against the stone beside his waist, but he ignored it, focused on his goal. As he hoisted to the top of the wall, he hesitated, his heart screaming to go back for more. But he knew better. He leaped into the air. White-hot pain shot from his thigh. He let loose a grunt loud enough to let those bastards know they got their target.

  Hitting the ground sent another wave of searing pain through his body. He tumbled onto his face with his hand firmly around the arrow.

  “Rah,” he grunted. Salient raced along the wall like the loyal steed he was. Rasi grabbed his mane as he passed and pulled himself onto his back with the grace of a wounded mountain lion attacking its prey. With a grimace, he snapped the arrow’s barb from the front of his thigh. Every bounce, every movement, every surge of blood through his femoral artery sent pain shooting through his pelvis and into his abdomen. He wanted to vomit with each grind of the arrow against his femur. He bit his lip and squeezed his fists tight into Salient’s mane.

  He crossed the Great Plains into the forest of Concore as soldiers on horseback spilled from the gates. He knew he could lose them once he reached the mountains. And, with his head start, that is what he did.

  CHAPTER 9

  REGRET

  Two days passed.

  Impossibly, someone found his cave. He hung, suspended from his straps a mere hand’s length from the ceiling. How did they find him? His unwitting prey meandered below and Rasi cursed himself for not being more alert for intruders. He glanced at his sword leaning against the wall and wished he had more warning before he took his elevated perch. The crackle of his fresh fire would surely tell his intruder that he was near. He was going to have to fight, that much he was sure.

  He studied the thick, bundled trespasser, wondering how long he had before the reinforcements arrived. He doubted Elijah would be foolish enough to send a single assassin, even a highly skilled one.

  Rasi waited. Slowly, the trespasser crept within range. A little farther … He extended his arms for the pounce.

  Then, the stranger, unknowingly saving his own life, called out, “Rasi?”

  Terik?

  Rasi lowered behind him without a sound. He tapped Terik’s padded shoulder, causing his friend to jump, fumble for his sheathed sword, and spin with attack on his mind. He lowered his sword with a relieved sigh.

  “Rasi, why are you still here?” He took a deep breath while grabbing his chest as if his heart was about to stop. “You promised you’d go back to Puimia.”

  Rasi shrugged his shoulders. He grabbed a tree-branch-turned-walking stick and limped to his fire.

  Terik sat down across from him. “You really did it this time,” he said. “What were you doing in the castle?”

  Rasi pictured Elijah’s terrified face and snickered. He scribbled in the dirt with his stick: “Revenge.”

  “Revenge? You were found guilty of murder. King Cecil had no choice but banish you. It pained him, too.”

  Rasi raised his brow and cocked his head. Not Cecil. Elijah.

  “Why, Rasi? Why did you kill the king and queen?”

  What? He shook his head. “No, no.”

  “They say you killed them both. Then you attacked Elijah.”

  Rasi kept shaking his head. He couldn’t believe Terik’s words.

  “They say the young princess found their mutilated bodies. Poor young thing. No child should see such a sight. Why did you do such a thing?” Rasi saw anger rise slightly in Terik’s face. He said, “I swore to protect the king and queen and you betrayed them.”

  Rasi buried his face into his hands. I drew the guards away. I caused this. Cecil, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to die. I wanted to make Elijah pay. Oh, what have I done?

  “Rasi, you won’t be safe anywhere. I cannot help you. I won’t.”

  Rasi rose to his feet, his straps tensing above him and crowding his friend.

  For the first time since Rasi had known Terik, he saw fear in the man’s face and realized he and his straps were the cause. He turned away with his head lowered. He heard Terik back toward the mouth of the cave, hesitate, and then disappear.

  I will never forgive myself.

  CHAPTER 10

  MEAT

  The weather in the mountains was brutal, though not nearly as brutal as the loneliness that accompanied it. Rasi had been a prisoner on Shadows Peak for seven long years. The country of Epertase wasn’t on his mind much anymore, as most of his focus was on survival. His only comfort came each night before he drifted to sleep as he remembered his beautiful wife and used her smile to lead the way to his dream world.

  The suns were hot and mugg
y that time of year and Rasi cursed his long hair. If he had his way, he’d hack off his locks altogether, but he knew better. As miserable as his mane made him in the summers, he was thankful for every strand during the harsh winters.

  He was hungry, but then again, he was always hungry. Some mornings he considered ignoring his rumbling stomach to wallow in self-pity, to wonder why he still fought. On those mornings, like this one, he had to summon all of his strength just to leave his cave. He moaned and stretched his kinks away. His mouth was as dry as cotton. He squeezed leftover berries into a hollowed-out river stone. Their taste on what was left of his mangled tongue was one of the few pleasures he had.

  Rasi scanned the dimly lit cave, wondering about his next meal. He hadn’t eaten the day before, as his hunting was lazy and the only game he came across, he scared away with clumsiness. He could have fished, he supposed, but it was late and he often used his aching stomach to keep him sharp.

  Why do I even bother?

  Rasi thought about returning to Epertase and sacrificing himself to King Elijah’s sick torture, but those thoughts accompanied him most mornings. After all, the pain dealt would let him feel something again other than the numbness that now consumed him. He decided as he had each day before that the very act of staying alive went against Elijah’s every desire for his death. That was reason enough for him to keep going. Besides, maybe one day Elijah would travel too far into the woods unaccompanied and if he did, Rasi would be there. Though he knew those dreams of vengeance weren’t likely to be realized, he used them to keep warm on many a winter night.

  A guttural growl at the mouth of the cave interrupted his morning drink. A shadow blocked out the morning suns. He lowered his cup. No sudden movements, he told himself. He turned his head. Standing at the cave’s mouth was a mound of pissed-off grizzly.

  The bear roared almost shaking the walls.

  Move on, bear! Rasi begged. Save yourself.

  The grizzly slobbered as he again roared his defiance. Rasi thought about retreating into the darker recesses of the cave, hopefully saving the bear a lot of pain, but the creature’s hungry intentions assured he wouldn’t get far. His tentacles flared out. Retreating wasn’t what they wanted. They wanted meat. Deep down inside, Rasi wanted the same.